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I feel great about his contract because he's not the only one that disappeared. The entire team disappeared, so it's not a case where one guy fell off, it was team-wide.

Guy is worth the dollars because he is maybe the best in the league at what he does.

The number of times he brought us back into games last season, I can't count this number on two hands.

I want to see the team make more of an effort to get him going early in the game, run some stuff for him so he can drain it, because too often last year he was asked to come in late in the game and drop mad bombs to get us back into the game.

I like the little fake and step-in he does, when he shoots the long two.

That's the thing, the guy is beast daddy from behind the trey line, but he is just as dangerous with the regular, 2-point jumpers. Pound for pound he had to be our most efficient scorer last season, that's without looking at any stats. He makes the most of his touches and it's good to have him on the team.

Far far away from the orgy that consist of clyde, 8's, rady, smokes and rono

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Good point orange and Paul. Without Novak, would have Linsanity been possible? At the times, Novak was Linsanity's man and he really brought us back into games we were trailing behind. His shooting is a strength, not only because its a special ability he possesses, Novak's shooting changes the entire defense of the opposing team which takes the iso pressure off of Lin, Melo, and Stat.

Good point orange and Paul. Without Novak, would have Linsanity been possible? At the times, Novak was Linsanity's man and he really brought us back into games we were trailing behind. His shooting is a strength, not only because its a special ability he possesses, Novak's shooting changes the entire defense of the opposing team which takes the iso pressure off of Lin, Melo, and Stat.

I never thought of Novak actually helping Lin but that is a good point. They compliment each other.

Steve Novak was beaming with excitement just minutes after slipping on a Knicks practice jersey for the first time in late December last year. In fact, his first words to reporters after being claimed off waivers by New York truly displayed his joy to join the 2011-12 squad.

“You get a call from New York, it’s something you dream of as a little kid, no matter where you are from and this is a special place to be,” Novak smiled at the first day of practice in 2011.

Roughly eight months later, the Wisconsin high school star holds the same type of feeling for one of the most historic franchises in sports. Novak resigned with the Knicks this offseason fresh off a spectacular campaign last year where he finished as the NBA leader in 3-point percentage.

“I was obviously very hopeful that this is where I would be coming back to this year and to get it done early this summer was just unbelievable, so I have some time to prepare and have my mind ready. There was nowhere else I wanted to be and it worked out, so I’m very happy.” Novak described his reaction to the deal.

At 28 years old, Novak is entering the prime of career and ecstatic to be a part of the direction of the team moving forward. This offseason, the Knicks adjusted the roster, acquiring a group of experienced playoff-proven players. Jason Kidd, Marcus Camby, Kurt Thomas, Ronnie Brewer, Raymond Felton, and Pablo Prigioni are some of the new faces that will join Novak in 2012-13 to go along with J.R. Smith, who was also resigned this summer. Novak believes the focus for New York is right on target in order to compete for a title in the near future.

“Because I think we are being built to win right now, win in the next few years, it makes a lot of sense to me,” Novak stated. “I think the fans understand and I think people have really embraced the direction we are going and you can feel it. We have become a little more veteran with Jason Kidd and Marcus Camby and those guys. They are great additions, they are going to help us win, they’re leaders, and I just think it’s going to make our bench deeper. I think we have really built a team that can make a long run in the playoffs.”

The 6-year pro found a home last season by jumping off the pine for the Knicks and instantly generating offense behind the arc. In the month of February, Novak averaged 11.7 points per game in 20.5 minutes of court time, including an impressive 47.7 percent from downtown. The “stretch” small forward also drilled six 3-pointers against Portland in March while the Knicks blasted the Blazers 121-79 in Mike Woodson’s head coaching debut. During a memorable victory over the Celtics in April, Novak connected on 8-of-10 long bombs en route to a 25-point performance in just 28 minutes.

Novak gained national notoriety for his ability to splash all over the floor. Fans tagged him as “Discount Double Check” due to his Aaron Rodgers inspired celebration and “Novakain” quickly caught fire during the Knicks run to the postseason.

Always a humble individual, Novak is more comfortable shifting the focus to his teammates and he was a fan of their work this summer. While his son was sleeping, the 6-10 sharpshooter caught a glimpse of Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler in action across the pond.

“My little guy was napping while the game was on and my wife kept saying that I need to be quiet because I was yelling at a big play or they were flopping and I was getting mad or something like that,” Novak laughed. “Carmelo played so well and Tyson, every time you hear a report about the team it was Tyson being one of the intangible guys as the core of that team.”

Novak also kept an eye on Amar’e Stoudemire and his work with the legendary center Hakeem Olajuwon.

“We all know that if he is working that hard and he is with Hakeem and he doing two-a-days, we all need to fall in line,” Novak emphasized.

He’s already gearing up for a highly anticipated training camp by spending time with Felton last week. Novak proved his worth last season and there is no doubt the 2012-13 Knicks will need a 3-point specialist when the opposing teams collapse on Anthony and Stoudemire in the paint. From day one of practice last year to the moment he resigned with the Knicks this summer, Novak is relishing the opportunity to play in NYC.

GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- Steve Novak is among the best in the NBA at knocking down a pull-up three-pointer, but this season you might see him do that from inside the arc -- and off the dribble.
Novak worked on creating shots for himself during the offseason so he doesn't have to rely so much on his teammates to get him looks."I don't think you'll ever see it as my go-to stuff, but I think as a weapon," Novak said. "When defenses overplay me, just put it on the floor, one or two dribbles, nothing crazy."
Knicks coach Mike Woodson told Novak he wanted him to develop this part of his game. In the first two preseason games, Novak, who shot an NBA-best 47.2 percent from three last year, did put the ball down a few times and tried to score off the dribble -- with mixed success.
Novak shot 7-for-7 from three against Washington, but missed a floater after putting the ball down. Last Saturday against the Celtics, Novak 1-for-6 from deep, but made a couple of shots off the dribble.
Woodson would like to see that and more from Novak."He's capable of doing that because he gets a guy up in the air and all that is two or three escape dribbles to go get your shot," Woodson said. "He's been working on that. The next step is to get him to take it all the way to the hole and maybe get knocked on his [butt] and go to the free throw line and shoot free throws."
Novak, who signed a four-year, $15 million contract in July, flourished playing under Mike D'Antoni and with Jeremy Lin, and it continued after Woodson took over. But Miami shut Novak down in the playoffs, holding him to 2.4 points, 6.4 below his season average.
That probably contributed to Woodson telling Novak he needed to expand his game and he tried over the summer."Just little things, just focusing a little more on my shot fake, just visualizing guys jumping and putting on the floor, one dribble," Novak said. "Just those little things will make a difference."
Still, getting open and spotting up from three will remain a big part of Novak's game.
In the Heat series, Lin was rehabbing from knee surgery and the Knicks didn't really have anyone who could penetrate and drive-and-kick to Novak. That shouldn't be a problem with Raymond Felton, Jason Kidd and Pablo Prigioni running the point now."I know I just have to stay spaced and draw the defenses out," Novak said. "I am so dependent on guys like Jason and Raymond and Pablo and those guys finding me. That's what they do; they're pass-first guys. It makes my job easier for sure."